As Karachi’s academic session begins with a delay of over two and a half months, students and parents are grappling with a significant shortage of textbooks. The Urdu Bazaar Traders Association has raised concerns over the unavailability of essential textbooks in the city’s markets, a situation that could severely impact the educational progress of millions of students.
During a press conference held at the heart of Karachi’s book-selling district, key officials of the Urdu Bazaar Traders Association, including Sajid Yousuf, Hussain Abbas, Ali Muhammad Awan, Nadeem Akhtar, and Farhan Kaghzi, revealed that approximately 30% to 40% of textbooks are currently missing from the market. This shortage is affecting students across multiple grades, leaving them without the necessary resources to begin their studies effectively.
The traders specifically highlighted the absence of critical textbooks such as 10th-grade mathematics, 5th-grade Urdu, chemistry and physics for grades 9 to 12, and English for 10th grade. Most alarmingly, computer science books for grades 9 and 10 have been unavailable for the past six months, and biology textbooks for grades 11 and 12 are also nowhere to be found.
This shortage is not just a logistical issue but a potential academic crisis. Hussain Abbas, General Secretary of the Urdu Bazaar Traders Association, pointed out the compounded difficulties faced by parents due to the recent imposition of an 18% to 20% tax on stationery items following the budget. This tax increase, coupled with the scarcity of textbooks, is placing an undue financial burden on families across Karachi.
The traders did not shy away from criticizing the Sindh Textbook Board and publishers, attributing the textbook shortage to their "incompetence and greed.” Sajid Yousuf, Chairman of the Urdu Bazaar Traders Association Sindh, noted that over 15 million students are enrolled in private and public educational institutions across the province. The delayed start of the academic year, which began in August instead of the traditional April, has exacerbated the issue, with delays in textbook printing being a significant contributing factor.
Yousuf emphasized that this is not the first time such delays have occurred. Last year, similar issues with late textbook publications led to some students failing their intermediate exams, a consequence that could have been avoided with better management and timely action from the authorities.
The association is calling for immediate intervention to resolve the crisis. Farhan Kaghzi, a prominent member of the association, highlighted the frustration of parents who are making repeated trips to Urdu Bazaar, only to return home without the full set of textbooks required for their children’s education. "Parents are growing increasingly desperate as they struggle to find the necessary textbooks,” Kaghzi said.
To prevent future shortages, Kaghzi proposed that the academic year should start on April 1, as originally intended, rather than being pushed to August. He also urged the immediate initiation of printing for next year’s textbooks to ensure that they are available on time. To avoid monopolization and ensure that textbooks are widely available, Kaghzi suggested that the contract for printing textbooks should not be awarded to a single publisher. Instead, it should be limited to 20,000 copies per publisher, allowing multiple publishers to contribute and thereby reducing the risk of shortages.
The ongoing textbook shortage poses a serious threat to the educational outcomes of students in Karachi and beyond. With essential learning materials unavailable, students are at risk of falling behind in their studies, which could have long-term consequences for their academic and professional futures.
The traders’ association’s call for the formation of a committee to address these issues underscores the urgency of the situation. Without immediate and effective action, the education of millions of students in Sindh could be compromised.
